Automatic circuit breaker and closer



(No Model.)

C. C. DRAKE. AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKER AND CLOSER.

Patented 00121 20, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. DRAKE, OF TRENTON, NEiV JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKER AND CLOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,960, dated October 20, 1896.

Application filed July 10, 1896. Serial No. 598,761. (No model.)

To etZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES (J. DRAKE, f the city of Trenton, county of Mercer, and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Automatic Circuit Breakers and Closers for the Protection of Telegraph Instruments, Telephones, and Storage Batteries from Abnormal Currents of Electricity, Short-Circuiting, or Grounding, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an automatic circuit breaker and closer operated by abnormal electric currents and a motor, and is capable of application to any number of circuits or batteries.

I accomplish this purpose by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.

Figure l is a front View of my mechanism,

- and shows the electrical and mechanical connections. Fig. 2 is a view in detail of the detent and connections.

In Fig. 1, A is an independent magnet connected by means of the binding-posts B and B to the main line C and C and from the binding-post B through and around the heliX of the magnet A, the metal strip D, the armature E, the metal contact-strip the metal arm G, and the binding-post B thereby formin g an electrical path from the main line through binding-posts B and Magnet A being of low resistance will not respond to the normal currents of the main line or lines or the storage batteries, but should an abnormal current be thrown into the main line the armature E would be instantaneously attracted, thereby releasing the arm G from the latch or detent N, the spring K, wound upon the cylinder L at the base of the arm G, being of sufficient power to throw the arm G into the position of the arm G as shown by the dotted lines G thereby releasing the detent H of the motor I, which would cause the arm or cam J to revolve and bring the end of the cam J to bear upon the arm G, which would restore the arm G to its normal position, and if the short circuit, ground, or abnormal currents have been removed the arm G will remain at rest in its normal position and the detent H will fall into its normal position, thereby stopping the motor I; but should the abnormal current, ground, or short circuit still remain the action would still be the same as first described and continue for any predetermined period, and at the expiration of such period the motor would come to rest in such a position as to leave the arm G in the position of the dotted lines G which will leave the main-line or storage batteries on open circuit until such abnormal currents, short circuits, or grounds are removed, and upon removal and by winding the moter up the cam or arm J will restorethe main-line or storage batteries to their normal condition.

In Fig. 2, H is the detent. G is the end of the arm adapted to bear against it. This detent is pivoted at H and is continued by the arm H M is an escapementwheel, the top portion of which shows at M in Fig. 1. This wheel bears upon its side wheel N, in which are notches, (shown by dotted lines,) in one of which notches the arm 11 of the detent normally rests. This wheel N may be attached to the escapement or to any other of the wheels of the clockwork of the motor. The operation in detail of this mechanism is that when the arm G is released from the latch N and is forced upward by the spring K it bears with it the end H of the detent, and the end H is thereby thrown out of the notch in the wheel N and the clockwork of the motor is free to revolve, carrying with it the cam J.

While my device may be worked by an electric motor or may be madein various different forms,l do not limit myself as to its mechanical construction or to the number of electrical circuits or storage batteries that one motor may be applied to, as the limit is only limited by the mechanical or electric power of the motor. If an electric motor is used, the circuit breaker and closer becomes automatic in all its parts.

The employment of an automatic circuit breaker and closer is of great value, as the protection to telegraph, telephone, and other electrical instruments is absolute, and in the case of storage batteries it is invaluable, and for the use on fire-alarm telegraph the automatic circuit breaker and closer is far prefto be attracted by an abnormal current, and by such attraction to release such arm. 1 5

2. A cut-out comprising a magnet and its armature, a swinging arm engaged with the armature, a 11ormally-wound motor having a detent in the path of the arm for releasing it, and a device operated upon movement of the 20 motor for restoring the arm.

CHARLES C, IDRA K E. Vitnesses:

0. Bow. MURRAY, WIN. CONOVER. 

